Please note, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the national lockdown restrictions, a number of the dates below have been postponed and all dates may be subject to further change.
The events calendar in 2019 in #AmazingAccrington was jam packed with fun, friendly events for all ages. Festival season kicked off with the wonderful #AmazingAccrington Live Music, featuring local school performances, local talent including Ella Shaw, and finishing with a headline performance from two million album selling indie band Toploader, their classic hit Dancing In The Moonlight echoing around the town centre, sung along by hundreds out of the estimated 7,000 visitors!
25th May saw #AmazingAccrington BusFest, showcasing Lancashire’s rich transport heritage. Accrington Town Square saw hundreds of families visiting the 15 buses and coaches on display, a free children’s treasure trail, and even taking rides on a vintage bus.
Starting Friday 31st May was the annual #AmazingAccrington Beer Festival, a 3 day event held at the Town Hall. Not just for the more than 60 real ales, the event also featured 20 ciders and a Gin Bar, plus entertainment. Tickets were just £10 for 3 drinks, a programme and a complimentary pint glass to take home.
To coincide with the beers, Saturday June 1st saw the #AmazingAccrington Food and Drink festival come to town. Over 14,000 visitors came along to sample the delights on offer, from waffles to paella – there were treats available from all round the world. Celebrity chef Richard Fox, known as the Beer Chef after his debut book, The Food and Beer Cook Book, gave demonstrations and acted as our compere. Activities for children were on offer throughout the day, and a huge highlight was the World War II re-enactment, also featuring a Second World War fighter plane Messerschmitt ME 109/Bf 109. On display outside the Town Hall was the Accrington Pals Bus, which the Accrington Heritage Trust is seeking funding and help to restore.
August Bank Holiday saw the roads closed for the adrenaline-fuelled #AmazingAccrington Soapbox Challenge, the culmination of weeks of hard work the entrants had carried out on building their vehicles. Soapboxes must have a form of steering, the ability to brake, and helmets must be worn, but aside from that anything goes – we even saw an old bathtub! Money is also raised for local charity Maundy Relief. Crowds lined the streets, not just for the action-packed racing but also for the Rally, Treasure Trail and Car Display.
Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to ensure public safety we had to cancel all plans for 2020.
We are now in a position to launch our exciting 2021 proposed schedule of events – although we will follow all current guidance nearer the time.
The line up in Accrington’s Town Square includes:
Saturday 24th April: Postponed – a later date will be announced
#AmazingAccrington Bus & Bike Fest
Featuring vintage buses and coaches, plus motorbikes of all types and size, this is sure to be a winner with motor enthusiasts of all ages.
Saturday 15th May: Postponed – a later date will be announced
#AmazingAccrington Live Music Festival
Once again on an outdoor stage we will be showcasing the best of our schools, local musical talent and a fun day out for all the family. Keep your eyes peeled for the announcement of our lineup!
Saturday 5th June : Postponed – a later date will be announced
#AmazingAccrington Food Festival and World War II Re-enactment
Bigger and better than previous years, we never stop developing ideas for the variety of food and drinks on offer. Additionally, next year’s re-enactment will feature not just a Spitfire but also a Sherman Tank, and a Russian KrAZ military truck.
Friday 4th June to Sunday 6th June : Postponed – a later date will be announced
#AmazingAccrington Beer Festival
The Beer Festival will return for the weekend in the Town Hall, featuring a diverse line up of quality real ales plus alternative drinks and entertainment.
Saturday 28th August & Sunday 29th August: Postponed a later date will be announced
#AmazingAccrington Soapbox Challenge
The incredibly popular Soapbox Challenge will return for the delight of the onlookers – for 2021 we will tour not only Accrington town centre on the Saturday, but also for the first time look to close down Queen Street in Great Harwood on the Sunday, and make this a multi site event across the weekend.
Saturday 25th September : Postponed a later date will be announced
#AmazingAccrington Accrington Day – new for 2021
In collaboration with Hyndburn Borough Council, this is the day the community unites to celebrate all things heritage, business, retail, football and tourism in the borough, helping to put Accrington on the map. Let’s honour and celebrate all of our borough’s achievements, as we come together to plan the next step in our growth.
We are grateful to have the support of Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Miles Parkinson, Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council.
Miles commented on our 2021 proposed schedule: “The team at #AmazingAccrington have really elevated the town’s events over recent years, bringing in thousands of visitors and really giving a boost to our town centre. They always put on a high quality event worth going to, and draw people in.”
Sara said. “I’m really looking forward to getting our town centres back to normality post Covid-19 restrictions. This is a fabulous line up of events for our residents and visitors, and I’m particularly looking forward to the Accrington Day where we can get together and celebrate our achievements in business, retail and football amongst others – they’re really something to be proud of.”
For more information about #AmazingAccrington please visit www.amazingaccrington.co.uk – thanks must go once again to all our wonderful sponsors, without whose support these events could not take place.
For more information on sponsorship, stall holder or general enquiries, please email events@scottdawson.co.uk
